BLM Eases Use of Records

LAKEWOOD – The Bureau of Land Management and USDA Forest Service are removing federal withdrawals throughout Colorado made for the protection of coal resources.  The 1,189,600 acres of public, National Forest, and patented lands are currently open to multiple uses and should not see a change in management.

These lands, located in counties across the state, are already managed for leasable minerals and mining activity.  This administrative act will give BLM and the Forest Service more options in managing the land, such as allowing for exchanges or disposal when land use plans show those are appropriate actions.

From 1906 to 1910, the federal government withdrew millions of acres of lands containing coal deposits in Colorado and other western states to reserve the government’s claim to coal resources.  However, the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 made coal, oil and gas, and other minerals leasable, yet allowed these resource values to be retained by the federal government, therefore making coal classifications and withdrawals unnecessary.

Additionally, unnecessary withdrawals will be removed from land records.  The coal withdrawals make maintaining and interpreting land records difficult.  Members of the public who reference these records frequently require interpretation by BLM and Forest Service personnel.  The withdrawal revocations will make record use and searches easier for all citizens.

Revocation of the withdrawal will become effective November 21, 2005.

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